Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 187, Page 185: Your sister's identity is a little bit special.
"Welcome to Koizumi Izakaya! Please come in~"

For the residents of Rukongai, death is a very common thing. Moreover, those Shinigami did not die in this izakaya, but after they left. Therefore, the izakaya is as noisy as usual tonight.

Do you have any private rooms?

Higashino Shuichi stood at the door and looked into the izakaya through the gap in the curtain. He found that although it was still early, the izakaya was already almost full, which showed how popular it was.

"I'm sorry, sir, the only private room we have left is already booked. We can only sit in the main hall now."

The bartender at the door looked embarrassed and apologized to Higashino Shuichi.

Since Higashino Shuichi was out in casual clothes today and wasn't wearing his signature captain's haori, and since he now lives in Seireitei as the Great Sword Hunter instead of Rukongai as before, and rarely shows his face in Rukongai, it's perfectly normal that the residents of Rukongai don't recognize him.

After hearing this, Higashino Shuichi didn't really want to stay in such a noisy environment for long, but he wasn't the type to bully others for no reason. So he didn't make things difficult for the waiter and went straight into the izakaya, randomly choosing a seat where there were relatively few people around.

In the middle of the journey, Higashino Shuichi did encounter a few Grim Reapers who recognized him, but given Higashino Shuichi's status, none of these Grim Reapers dared to come up and greet him.

Even after Higashino Shuichi sat down, these Grim Reapers seemed to move away from him.

Higashino saw all of this.

This shows that Tsunayoshiro Kanbara's propaganda work is very effective. Now, in the entire Soul Society, apart from those Shinigami in the Daylight Squad who have had some dealings with Higashino Shuichi in the past or who know about Higashino Shuichi, most of the Shinigami in the Gotei 13 still firmly believe that the Sword Hunters led by Higashino Shuichi will stand on the opposite side of their Gotei 13 in the future.

This reputation had begun to improve slightly after Higashino Shuichi defeated Barragan, but the slight improvement was immediately wiped out after Kisaragi Shusuke and Matsumoto Rangiku returned and joined the Sword Hunters.

"That's probably why you agreed to my request so readily back then, right, Tsunayoshiro Kamihara?"

Higashino Shuichi smiled disdainfully to himself.

What would you like to order, sir?

Soon, a new young bartender came to Higashino Shuichi with the wine list. From her slightly trembling voice, Higashino Shuichi could tell that she must have figured something out from the reactions of the people around her.

Even though she had guessed that Higashino Shuichi was a very difficult person to deal with, and her other companions were too afraid to come and serve him, she still took the initiative to accept the task.

For her colleagues, this job was just a job, but for her, it was a hard-won job that she had obtained after putting in countless efforts and using many connections.

She must do her best to impress her boss so that he might genuinely want to keep her on the job long-term.

"Ice Crystal Lily Root, do you have this wine here?"

Looking at the young waiter in front of him, Higashino Shuichi did not reach out to take the wine list handed to him, but instead asked with a smile.

This is one of Matsumoto Rangiku's favorite drinks. Back when Higashino Shuichi still lived in Rukongai, Matsumoto Rangiku would often bring this drink back with him, so Higashino Shuichi remembers it very clearly.

"Yes, sir! We have ice crystal bellflower here. Is there anything else you need besides that?"

The young bartender nodded hastily in response, not daring to even look Higashino Shuichi in the eye.

Although she had carefully observed Higashino Shuichi in the preparation room and felt that he did not seem like such a terrifying Grim Reaper, since her colleagues all said so, she must have misjudged him.

Therefore, she didn't dare to utter a sound in front of Higashino Shuichi.

"That's all, just give me one of these first~"

Higashino smiled, and just as the young waiter in front of him was about to turn away with a sigh of relief, he suddenly spoke.
"By the way, may I ask your name?"

"Huh? My name?"

The young bartender was clearly stumped by Higashino Shuichi's seemingly random question. Although this wasn't the first time a customer had asked her name, would this man, whom her colleagues described as a devilish figure from a novel, really be interested in her?

This is not good.
The young bartender stopped in his tracks and frowned.

She was conflicted because she had an idiot in her life who would always secretly take revenge on customers who had harassed her at the izakaya, even if the other party was the Grim Reaper. Of course, every time, the result was not good.

For example, right now, he's recuperating at home.

"What? Is it inconvenient to say?"

Seeing the young waiter's hesitant expression, Higashino Shuichi asked curiously.

"No, no, sir, my name is Rukia. Even if I didn't tell you, you could ask any of the other bartenders in the izakaya, and they would all tell you. There's nothing I can't tell you~"

Upon hearing Higashino Shuichi's question again, Rukia quickly explained to him, afraid that he might have misunderstood something.

Of course, in her heart, she was praying that her idiot husband, Renji Abarai, who had come from the 78th district of South Rukongai with her to the 1st district of South Rukongai, wouldn't act impulsively after hearing the news.

Because the man in front of them was definitely not an ordinary Grim Reaper.

"Rukia, hmm, what a lovely name~"
Just like that woman I met, both of your names are quite nice, and more importantly, you two look very alike~

Higashino Shuichi leaned back in his chair and said.

Who is Rukia?
Originally a pseudo-female lead in the Bleach storyline, many people were hoping that she and Ichigo Kurosaki would end up together, but who would have thought that in the end she would be defeated by her childhood friend.

More importantly, she has an older sister named Hishin.

Of course, nowadays, if you want to call her older sister, even if it's Higashino Shuichi, you have to add the name Kuchiki before it.

Because Kuchiki Hisa is the current head of the Kuchiki family and the wife of Kuchiki Byakuya.

However, since Kuchiki Byakuya is still alive, he doesn't go out of his way to search for his sister, Kuchiki Hisa, all over the world. It's only after Kuchiki Hisa's body collapses and she passes away that he belatedly realizes the importance of searching for her and tries to make up for his wife's regret.

Even so, in the original storyline, Byakuya Kuchiki never revealed any of the secrets.

Not to mention at this point in time.

Kuchiki Hisa's body is just weak; it hasn't reached the point where she can't hold on any longer.

As someone who is not a member of the Kuchiki family, Higashino Shuichi cannot yet reveal that he already knew Rukia's true identity.

However, since Rukia has appeared so far ahead of the original storyline, so close to the Seireitei, Shuichi Higashino can't guarantee that Byakuya Kuchiki or Hisama Kuchiki might happen to pass through this area one day and discover Rukia's existence.

In particular, Rukia has a face that is very similar to her older sister, Hisa Kuchiki.

Although only a small group of people in Soul Society have ever seen Kuchiki Hisana's face, and many of them probably wouldn't even pay special attention to the appearance of Kuchiki Hisana, a commoner from Rukongai, Higashino Shuichi wouldn't gamble on whether there were exceptions like himself among them. Higashino Shuichi realized that this might be an opportunity to gradually close the gap between himself and the Kuchiki family.

This was not even within Higashino Shuichi's consideration a few months ago, but his last conversation with Kyoraku Shunsui allowed Higashino Shuichi to grasp Kyoraku Shunsui's thoughts.

Kyoraku Shunsui wants to use Higashino Shuichi to completely eliminate the current hidden dangers in Soul Society, and may even be planning to completely weaken the power of the Tsunayashiro family, and then support the Kuchiki family, which is more in line with his own ideas, to take over.

Meanwhile, Higashino Shuichi was thinking that he might take advantage of Kyoraku Shunsui's opportunity to build a good relationship with the Kuchiki family.

This would have been unimaginable in the past, before Higashino Shuichi was labeled a "traitorous Grim Reaper".

Because the head of the Kuchiki family at that time was Kuchiki Ginryu, an old-fashioned man who was similar to Yamamoto.

The subsequent head of the Kuchiki family, Kuchiki Sojun, was somewhat more gentle than Kuchiki Ginryu, but having been taught by her for a long time, he was absolutely firm in his stance on upholding orthodoxy.

But now, times have changed. No one could have imagined that the Kuchiki family would change so quickly. Before Kuchiki Byakuya had even experienced any real-world trials, he inexplicably took over as the head of the Kuchiki family.

Even Kyoraku Shunsui was trying to influence Kuchiki Byakuya's judgment, and Higashino Shuichi didn't think he was much worse than Kyoraku Shunsui.

It's just guidance, it's not like he's the only one from Kyoraku Shunsuikai.

Higashino Shuichi stated that he is a seasoned veteran in this industry.

Under the foreseeable new order, Higashino Shuichi felt he needed a group of allies.

After all, both he and Aizen share a remarkably consistent understanding of a certain matter.

That is, no matter how things change, the existing order and framework of Soul Society cannot be fundamentally altered; otherwise, it would not be a reconstruction of order, but a complete rebuilding of the world.

For Shuichi Higashino, breaking up the existing Soul Society system meant that he would have to spend a lot of time and effort to rebuild the system and build a new order, which was no different from killing him.
As for Aizen, if he destroyed the existing Soul Society, how could he then spread his ideals and his will to the world? Would he simply remain aloof and self-absorbed?

That's absolutely impossible!
One of the joys of life is witnessing others submit to one's ideals and act according to one's will.

Therefore, unless Higashino Shuichi and Aizen make a mistake and allow madmen like Tsunayoshi Tokinada or Yhwach to exploit a loophole, Higashino Shuichi believes it is necessary to find some usable allies for himself in Soul Society in advance.

At least it won't do you any harm.

Higashino Shuichi's words naturally caught Rukia's attention.
"You said you've seen a woman who looks just like me?"

Is her name Hishin?

Rukia asked excitedly.

She had always believed that she had been separated from her sister. After meeting Renji Abarai and the others and settling down temporarily, Rukia had been trying to find her sister, but to no avail.

Rukia and her group questioned every resident in the 78th ward of South Rukongai, and even the residents of the 77th ward, and even lost many companions in the process, but Rukia still did not get any information about her sister.

Unexpectedly, today she would hear from the mouth of a grim reaper that someone who seemed to be her sister existed.

"You actually know that name; it seems you do have some connection with that lady."

Higashino Shuichi deliberately feigned surprise as he spoke.

"Is it really Hisana-neechan? Where is she? Sir, could you please take me to see her?"

Upon hearing Higashino Shuichi's words, Rukia became even more excited, and even unconsciously addressed him as "sir" instead of "guest."

"No, at least not now. There are some things you may not be aware of, but I must remind you, Miss Lucia, your sister's status is now quite special. Even I can't just see her whenever I want."

On this point, Higashino Shuichi was not lying.

Regardless, the Kuchiki family, as one of the five great noble families, still holds considerable prestige. Unless Higashino Shuichi can win over Kabuto Sayako and marry into the Kabuto family, which is also one of the five great noble families, he can be said to have officially gained a status to communicate with Kuchiki Byakuya on an equal footing. Otherwise, even with Higashino Shuichi's current strength and status, he is still just a servant in front of the heads of these five great noble families.

This is the current state of Soul Society.

This is also the structure of the Soul Society over the past few thousand years.

"Then how can I see my sister?"

Rukia said somewhat dejectedly.

She was terrified; it was all a dream.

"I'll try to make the contact after I finish what I'm doing, but whether we can actually meet then is beyond my control."

Shuichi Higashino did not give Rukia a complete guarantee.

Because he wasn't quite sure whether Byakuya Kuchiki would accept Rukia's existence at this point in time.

After all, the mere fact that he married a commoner girl was enough to cause controversy.

However, since Kuchiki Byakuya was not yet the head of the Kuchiki family at the time, and considering the lifespan of Shinigami, the nobles at that time unanimously believed that it would be hundreds of years before Kuchiki Byakuya took over as head of the family, which is why it did not attract much opposition at the time.

However, Kuchiki Byakuya is now the head of the Kuchiki family, and he has only recently taken office. If he does something that is not a good example in the eyes of the nobles, some wavering nobles may directly side with the Tsunayashiro family.

This is something Byakuya Kuchiki has to consider, and it's also something Shuichi Higashino is worried about.

But this only applies to Rukia. As for Shuichi Higashino, he had already achieved his goal by telling Byakuya Kuchiki about Rukia.

As for the rest of the headaches, let Kuchiki Byakuya worry about them.

"Yes, Lord Death! I will stay and work at this izakaya! You can just send someone to find me here whenever you need me!"

As a commoner from Rukongai, Rukia had never seen much of the world and couldn't imagine what kind of identity her sister had now. She simply thought that this was just an excuse from Higashino Shuichi.

But she didn't think there was anything wrong with it. After all, she knew that she was just an ordinary person, and the fact that this Grim Reaper was willing to help her contact her sister was already an unexpected surprise.

She has nothing to ask for.

"Sure~"

Higashino nodded slightly, then asked Rukia,
"In return, may I trouble you to tell me truthfully and in detail whether you know the Grim Reaper who frequents this izakaya, Ukitake Sama?"

(End of this chapter)